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# Sports centre users face price hike as council aims to break even
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/sports-centre-users-face-price-hike-as-council-aims-to-break-even/
- Published: 2024-11-14T08:10:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:30:28.000Z
- Description: Users of Ransomes Sports Pavilion will see fees rise by up to 22% after Ipswich Borough Council approved increases to make the facility financially self-sufficient.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Councils, Entertainment & Leisure, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, Ransomes Sports Centre, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** The council announced changes to all pricing tiers at the centre, with most new charges taking effect from 1 November 2024.

**Why it matters:** The facility, which includes football and cricket pitches, a bowls green and pavilion, has been running at a financial loss despite growing popularity.

While the council has tried to minimise some increases – like the modest 20p rise for iCard holders – the changes will impact everyone from casual users to organised sports teams, with some fees rising by over 20%.

![Ransomes Sports Pavilion in Ipswich](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1731425949-ransomes-sports-pavilion-ipswich-1.jpg)

Ransomes Sports Pavilion in Ipswich Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk)

**By the numbers:**

- Pitch hiring will increase from £65.50 to £80.00 (from July 2025)
- Pavilion hiring rises from £33.00 to £40.25
- Casual user fees jump from £7.00 to £8.60
- iCard holders face a modest rise from £20.00 to £20.20

**Between the lines:** The council bought the club in the 1990s and leased it to a management committee for 15 years. The decision comes as the centre has seen significant growth in usage, with occupancy rising from 18% in 2023 to a projected 27% in 2024.

The centre continues to expand its health and wellbeing programmes, including Feel Good Suffolk sessions, strength and balance classes, and Breathewell classes.

**What's next:** While most changes take effect from November, pitch hiring increases won't come into force until July 2025.

**The bottom line:** The price hike is one of several made by the council over the last few weeks as it looks to balance its books, but comes at a challenging time for residents already facing rising living costs. Local football and cricket clubs using the pitches will be particularly affected when prices increase in July 2025.

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